ALBUM REVIEW – MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE: NEON

For many years, the idea of classical music was intimidating to me. The class connotations were off-putting together with the sense of a white, male and stale canon. The absence of lyrics also meant there was less to latch onto. Michael Nyman’s score to Peter Greenaway’s film ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover’ […]
Three albums into his solo career, Wand’s Cory Hanson has conjured distinct and magical flavours each time. Debut release, 2016’s ‘The Unborn Capitalist from Limbo’, dealt out an unimpeachably lush psychedelia while its follow up, ‘Pale Horse Rider’, developed a country rock tinge. With his latest release, Hanson leaps into rock territory. To these ears, […]

ALBUM REVIEW – CORY HANSON: WESTERN CUM

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 16 JUNE 2023

This week Silent Radio offers you a selection ranging all the way from obscure experimentation to chart toppers old and new. SunYears – Come Fetch My Soul A collection of top-quality songwriting from Swedish singer/songwriter Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John) with guest vocals from Jess Williamson, Fruit Bats, Kathryn Williams, Ren Harvieu and an […]
‘PARANOIA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE’ is the latest release from Christine and the Queens since 2022’s much-loved ‘Redcar les adorables étoiles’. In the form of an intense 20 tracks, Redcar displays himself in full vulnerability to put forward his personal journey, including collaborations from Madonna and 070 Shake, this album really is full of surprises. ‘Overture’ […]

ALBUM REVIEW: CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS – PARANOIA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 9 JUNE 2023

This week sees another selection of releases to excite and intrigue. Here is a precis: Youth Lagoon – Heaven is a Junkyard An understated and enticing record of mutant Americana in a world of love, drugs, storytelling and miracles, held together by Trevor Powers’ voice and an upright piano. This is the Kit – Careful […]
There is no sign of the traditional summer ease up in releases with lots of tasty treats out this week. WITCH Zango A very welcome return for Zambia’s greatest rock band and originator of Zamrock return with their first album in 39 years sounding remarkably fresh and featuring two of their original members and their […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 2 JUNE 2023

ALBUM REVIEW – RUEN BROTHERS: TEN PACES

If two brothers from Scunthorpe were to create a Western starring Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, ‘Ten Paces’ could be the outcome. Henry Stansall set out covering the Man in Black’s songs in pound a pint English joints before upping sticks with sibling, Rupert, and relocating to the States where their 2018 debut, ‘All My […]
Throughout a 45-year career, initially with The Prefects but predominantly with The Nightingales, Robert Lloyd has specialised in lyrically obtuse, spectacular Beefheartian, post-punk clatter of increasing complexity. However, during this time there have been a number of pleasing digressions such as his mid-1980s foray into Americana with ‘In The Good Old Country Way’ and a […]

ALBUM REVIEW – LLOYD BEAN: BLACK CAT, DARK HORSE

ALBUM REVIEW – DAKOTA JONES: HEARTBREAKERS SPACE CLUB

The second album from New York City funk-soul band Dakota Jones sees them setting off into space. Cosmic journeys can be an excuse for lengthy, indulgent soloing, tracks stretching on for a duration that feels as long as a journey into space but fortunately ‘Heartbreakers Space Club’ does not fall into this trap. All ten […]
For lovers of gently woozy psychedelia, the news that its prime exponents Kikagaku Moya’s 2022 album ‘Kumoyo Island’ would be their final release was a terrible blow. Ambling to the rescue come an unlikely set of superheroes in Maya Ongaku, a trio hailing from the seaside region of Enoshima, an island 50km south-west of Tokyo. […]
Maya Ongaku - Approach to Anima

ALBUM REVIEW: MAYA ONGAKU – APPROACH TO ANIMA